There is NO RESTING on Le Tour!

Yesterday (Tuesday) was a rest day for the Tour.  Since you already read yesterday's blog post, you know that your intrepid Tour de France Reporters JnJ spent the day scouting the HC Port de Bales climb.  


Today the Tour is done resting.  Since we never actually did rest, we had an early wake up for an hour plus  shuttle to just another picture perfect Haute (pronounced "OAT") Pyrenees town.  We were up and out early   to be on the actual course the riders would be on, before the roads were closed down.

Legs balked at the warm up, but agreed to respond when we told them "YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRICKIN' TOUR DE FRANCE, HOW AWESOME IS THAT".  OK, up we go.  Today's ride was the last 40 ish Kilometers of today's stage which included the Category 1 climb to the Col du Peyresourde.

Unlike yesterday's solitude on the little cattle path up the mountain, today was Tour Fever.  Fans everywhere shouting and running and walking.  Hordes of people headed up the mountain on all kinds of bikes.  We were a part of the mass, dodging pedestrians, children, dogs, mountain bikes, and people from all over the world proudly waving their flags.  Several kilometers of 8+ average grades later, John kicked it up a notch to summit the col.  "A few" minutes later, Jane joined him.  YAY WE DID IT!  Weary legs and all, we were a part of the craziness of the tour.

Back in Luchon, it was so cool to be riding the last few kilometers of the stage.  

The downhill was extraordinary.  We stopped to take photos with one of our riding buddies, Anne, before rolling back into Luchon where the barriers were up and crowds were waiting for the tour finish.  We relished our refreshing showers before heading out into the melee.

We were excited about our VIP seating passes.  As we walked over to the seating (which was in full sun) we got distracted by the area where the riders come in.  And then they came in!  LOOK WHO WE MET:

BRADLEE!

CHRIS FROOME!

CAV!

Cav was not feeling so well.

All this excitement was followed by beer garden with our riding buddies, wine tasting, and dinner until 10:30 PM.  Yup, there is no resting on the tour.  Bon Soir!

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RIDING!

SUNDAY - WE ARE STARTING TO FEEL THE EXCITEMENT OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE

Sunday morning,we started to get pretty excited when these giant TEAM TRUCKS started arriving at our hotel in Toulouse.  FDJ and Cofidis were at our hotel.

We met up with Chris Gutowski and the Velosport Crew shortly thereafter and we were on our way to Bagneres du Luchon, our base for the next several days.  


After we arrived in Luchon, we the team got our bikes ready and we (our group of 9 plus our two guides) were off for a "shake down ride" which include the climb to he Col du Portillion.  Fortunately, Jane had a dereaileur issue and had to roll back to the hotel.  "Fortunately" you ask?  YES!  Jane got to use Chris's personal TEAM SAXO BANK SPECIALIZED S-WORKS equipped with CAMPY 11 Speed for he rest of the trip.  Happy Jane.  She likin' Campy.

We had a magnificent feast up the mountain with some amazing wine.

 

MONDAY WE RIDE ON THE TOUR COURSE 
We got an early start and headed to today's stage.  We started ON THE TOUR COURSE at 58K left before the finish.  We rode in magnificent weather in the most beautiful rolling countryside towards Pau.  Because the Tour was coming through shortly, the roads were packed with spectators shouting "Allez Allez" at us.  So many people!  Just like on TV!  WOW we were riding the course!  We grouped up with the three individual men on our trip and the five of us rode well together.  We did two Category 3 climbs and a Category 4.  The run in to Pau was AMAZING.  Roads all blocked off, flying through tight turns, broad boulevards, road furniture and the big traffic circles - JUST US.  We were supposed to turn off at 1.5 K but of course we headed straight on to the 1K Kite.  The Gendarmes weren't thrilled with us and we got kicked off the course.  Pretty cool though!

After changing into street clothes, we were free to go hang out by the finish and catch the whole TOUR FEVER.  What a scene!  AND we me BOBKE and Jane even got give Bobke's a kiss.

It was such a crazy fun scene!

We headed back to the 1K Kite and found a little pizza joint where we enjoyed some malted recovery beverages and waited for the riders to come in.  Christian Van de Velde looked like he was gonna win but came in second.  The peleton flew by!  Too exciting!  Shortly after we were back in the van to Luchon and fast asleep.

Do you see the Green Jersey of Peter Sagan middle left?  Then Bradley Wiggins in Yellow, Cadel to his right and then Chris Froom in White, with Cuddles in front of him and I think Greipel in front of Wiggo . . .

TUESDAY IS A REST DAY - NOT!
Up and dressed early, we ride straight from Luchon.  We were a little nervous as Bertand, one of our guides, called the Port du Bales "very, very difficult".  After a long downhill, we started gently up hill.  Then the climb started and we had 19K to go.  Here is how we know that:

A few flatter sections early on, but then each K we would see a sign saying "8% or - 9% or - 7% and on and on and on.  We hit the switchbacks and got over the tree line.  Chris was in the team car making sure we had enough to drink or if we wanted to sag (HA!).  

Bertrand asked Jane if she needed a push and she replied "NOT YET".  John climbed with Jay and Jeff, and Jane rode with Lance (really) as our speeds worked out that way.  

Cows in the road, motor homes tacked to sides of cliffs, and then finally the summit.  We did it! No pushes needed.

After celebrating at the summit, we headed down.  And down.  And down.  And down.  Ouch that hurts your hands and neck, but what a gorgous ride.  Happy JnJ.


The group celebrated with those special malted recovery beverages and lunch (we chatted and joked with Bobke some more as he was passing our cafe) , and then we did a little shopping, and then had our masseuse come by to get us ready for tomorrow.  Another big day of CLIMBING and the tour finish right here in our town of Luchon.


And with that, your intrepid but tired and VERY HAPPY Tour de France Reporters wish you bon soir for now.

First Full Day in Southern France - Just a few BIKES

JnJ Reporting on 

Le TOUR de FRANCE FROM TOULOUSE

Your intrepid reporters spent the day getting acclimated to the different time zone and the local wines.

We did, however, find a bike "shop" (hole in the wall) with some cool old bikes.

We also visited the worlds largest Romanesque cathedral, St. Sernin, dating back to 1030.

Enjoy!

We promise more BIKES tomorrow.

The Choir of St. Sernin got a baroque makeover.  It made for an interesting photo.

Incredible Romanesque architecture.  St. Sernin is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

OK and now for the BIKES we promised you!  We are liking their interior decorator and might use him in our new home.  

We love old head tube badges.  This was so lovely.  Can anyone add any information about this French bike maker?

Thats all for now, we are looking forward to meeting with our group to head up into Haute Pyrenees.

Check back soon and you might find us actually ON a BIKE.

  

Nous Son Arrive'!

BON JOUR! 

JnJ reporting from Toulouse in Southwest France.  

Happy Bastille Day!

We were already impressed with the art at the Toulouse Airport.

Toulouse from the air - see why they call it "The Pink City"?

We arrived at our hotel by the Airport at about 3pm Friday.  Surprisingly refreshed after only a few hours sleep, we set off to see what Toulouse had to offer.

Our hotel for these two nights in Toulouse is a little ways out of the city center.  We walked a block to the tramway and then the Metro.  Great public transportation.  The Tour is coming here!  We also took this photo to show all youz "Save the Dinky" folks how beautiful a tramway can be.  The tramway is a beautiful quiet greenway!  Wow, we'd trade the Dinky for this any day.

Cap'n Jack happily ensconced at a cafe.

Dinner is late (or early, depending on your time zone) so we had plenty of time for strolling and shopping (we each bought Festina watches and bathing suits).  We chose a restaurant in Place Saint Georges which was lively with no traffic at all.

 A local wine from the region around Toulouse went great with the entrecote and magret du canard.

We did not want the evening to end.  We walked across the square to another hoppin' cafe for just one more.  The French have such style and the people watching is fabulous.  Looking forward to more tomorrow before we have to get serious for riding.